Can-opener



(No Model.)

W. J. KINNEAR.

CAN OPENER.

110,571,835. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

WITNESSES: l/VVEN 70/2 M6 By M. I I 4 f I A TTOBIVEYS UNITED STATES lVILLIAM JAMES KINNEAR,

Farmer QFFICEQ OF LUZERN I, NEYV YORK.

CAN-DPENER.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,835, dated November 24, 1896.

Serial No. 583,839. (No model.)

To a whom, it Ira/cry concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JAMES KIN- NEAR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Luzerne, county of W'arren, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutting-Tools, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved cutting-tool adapted especially for opening tin or other sheetqnetal cans; but the device can be used for cutting away portions of thin sheet-metal structures of any character, the object of the invention being to produce an inexpensive article of this character formed in such a manner as to provide in its structure a common fulcrum for the handle and cutting-knife, whereby the maximum force supplied by the leverage of said handle may be exerted during the operation of cutting by both upward and downward strokes of the knife without undue exertion on the part of an operator.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cutting-tool; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a slightlymroclified form of tool, illustrating the operation of same by means of dotted lines.

In the practice of my invention any suitable handle A is attached to a hook B, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings; but the said handle A may form an integral part of the hook B, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The hook 13 comprises an upright Z2, having flanges b, projected upon its lower edge, whereby a substantial base 5 is provided for said upright.

Projected upon a curved line and then downwardly upon a vertical line from the upright I) is a cutting-blade b the lower portion of which is projected below the base-line of the upright b and is formed into a sharp point. The cutting-surface of said blade extends from the point 1 to the point 2, where said blade joins the upright b.

In the operation of the device the point 1 of the cutting-blade is forced through the sheet-metal structure 0 (illustrated by horizontal dotted lines of Fig. 2) until the base 6 of the uprightb rests firmly upon the said structure 0. The handle A is then carried in the direction of the arrow 3 to a position approximating that shown by dotted lines 4 of Fig. 2, whereby the whole tool will be forced in the direction of the arrow 5, owing to the blunt outer surface of the cutting-tool b thus producing an elongated slit in the structure 0. The handle A is then forced downwardly in the direction of the arrow 6 until the base Z2 again rests upon the horizontal surface of the structure 0, as illustrated by dotted lines 7, whereby the length of the slit produced in said structure is increased, this operation being repeated any desirable number of times, depending upon the length of the slit it is desired to cut.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a cuttingtool or can-opener, comprising a base with an upright curved over and downwardly constituting a knife, having its edge parallel with the inner surface of the upright and extending below the said base and terminating in a puncturing-spur; and a handle projected at right angles to said upright, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of March,

WILLIAM JAMES KINNEAR.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM T. GAMAR, Dnnos ABEL, 

